Man charged in Murrumbeena murder

Residents of a quiet suburb in Melbourne’s south east are in shock after police charged a neighbour with the brutal slaying of a couple in their home on Wednesday.

The homicide squad charged Murrumbeena resident Thomas Hemming, 21, with two counts of murder on Friday over the deaths of Cheryl Adamson, 60, and her husband Robert, 65, who were found dead in their Murrumbeena home.

The accused appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.

Cheryl and Rob Adamson's Murrumbeena house, where both were found dead. Photo: Penny Stephens

Mr Hemming lives in an adjacent street from where the Adamsons lived on Omama Road for about 40 years.

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Neighbours that spoke to Fairfax Media were visibly shocked at the news that someone they know had been charged with the crime.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he felt sorry for the accused's parents and speculated they may have to move out of the area.

Another neighbour said said he was glad charges had been laid.

Colleagues found the couple after Ms Adamson failed to turn up to work.

Fairfax Media understands that Ms Adamson was a senior teacher librarian at the Grimwade House junior campus of Melbourne Grammar School, and her husband was an accountant.

Police investigating the double murder removed about 10 guns from the crime scene on Thursday, however police said they were taken for safety reasons.

Also removed was a four-wheel drive vehicle believed to be owned by the couple’s son.

Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen McIntyre from the homicide squad described the scene as ‘‘brutal’’.

"They’ve both been assaulted and it would appear that a weapon was used, but until we’ve done a post-mortem we won’t know what that weapon was," he said.

Ted Fentiman, who has lived next door to the Adamsons for about 40 years, said he was "at a loss to imagine who would do this thing".

"I know them extremely well and I couldn’t imagine who could have perpetrated this but I guess that we’ll find out eventually," he said.

"It all comes as a bit of a shock."

He said the couple’s two children had a close relationship with their parents and their son was due to marry later in the year.

A distressed friend, who did not want to be named, said those who knew them were in shock.

"They were a lovely couple," she said.

A neighbour living near the accused, who asked not to be named, said she was in shock.

"They're lovely parents and they're the ones that I knew. I never knew the son. I only had one conversation with him before."